Measuring stress redistributions in embankment dams

Zones of low total stresses may affect the safety of embankment dams. Earth pressure measurements are carried out in order to determine stress redistributions occurring within the dam. The reliability of these measurements is significantly reduced, however, by various influencing factors, especially due to the mechanical interaction between the earth pressure cell and the surrounding fill material. The theoretical errors of measurement based on different material behaviour may be determined with the aid of approximation formulae, which is derived from numerical computations. Experimental investigations, as well as the evaluation of measured data from dam projects, serve to indicate the influence (also numerically determinable) of transverse pressure on earth pressure cell measurements. With the aid of suitable evaluation methods, it is possible to verify earth pressure measurements in embankment dams and also to improve their reliability.